A member of the RCMP and various legion members attract attention at the parade during Little New York Daze in Longview last year. This year’s festivities takes place July 19-21 with the parade taking place July 20 at 10 a.m.

A rodeo, shooting games for children and a parade are among the activities planned for the village’s Little New York Daze July 19 to 21.

“Most of us are red necks so you never know what we are liable to have there,” said Little New York Daze Committee Secretary Tess De La Mare. “What makes it unique is its Longview. It’s quite an event in this area because some of the other ones in some of the other towns weren’t able to do theirs because of the flood.”

In addition to a slow pitch baseball tournament and the Longview Stampede rodeo, two days of activities will keep residents and visitors busy, said De La Mare. Details about the rodeo are available in the sports section of the Western Wheel. The festivities begin Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast at the fire hall from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. followed by the parade at 10 a.m.

The parade is one of the bigger attractions, but De La Mare is not quite sure how many entries there will be.

“We sent out invitations to a lot of the different towns,” she said. “Some don’t let you know, they just show up.”

De La Mare said there is no theme for this year’s parade so everyone entering is welcome to be creative.

Following the parade residents can enjoy a market in the community hall at 12 p.m. featuring a variety of wares, De La Mare said.

“There will be a little bit of everything for the market,” she said, adding it will feature jewelry, food, crafts, art, Tupperware and items from local businesses. “It could be anything and everything.”

Little ones will have plenty to do following the parade with a variety of children’s activities set up at Longview’s school grounds from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Children can collect game cards and get stamps at each booth. Games include a cork gun, air soft guns, water pistols and a water balloon toss.

Other activities include the Millarville Show Riders at noon, a performance by the Tomlin Trick Dogs at 12:30 p.m. and mutton busting at 2 p.m.

The Longview Community Church is organizing the children’s activities, which Pastor George Teichroeb said attracts anywhere from 150 to 200 children each year.

“Right after the parade the kids just swarm upon the school grounds where they are given a game card and are turned loose,” he said. “We have very young kids, anywhere from there or four years old, shooting cork guns and throwing water balloons. It’s really neat to see.”

Parents can spend their afternoon at the market or take some shelter from the sun under tents near the children’s activities, Teichroeb said.

Like the other events, the children’s activities are free of charge.

“We are not there to make any money, we are just there for the kids,” he said. “We have phenomenal support from our church. They have taken the lion’s share of manning the booths, setting up and taking down.”

Also in the afternoon, Longview Ferrier Rob Hitchner will give a blacksmithing demonstration at the fire hall.

“It’s unique because he’s probably going to show how to make horseshoes,” said De La Mare. “He’s done door pulls, all kinds of neat little things. It’s unique stuff.”

Following the day’s activities, participants can enjoy a beef and pork supper complete with roast potatoes, coleslaw, pork and beans and a variety of desserts at the fire hall starting at 4:30 p.m. The cost was not determined at press timeHow can you get tickets? .

The fun continues in Centennial Park on July 21 with a cowboy church at 10 a.m. led by The Josties of Milk River. The Josties are a musical family who travel across Canada and the United States to share the faithfulness of God through music.

“Generally what we do is we introduce the musical group and they take the reins in the morning,” said Teichroeb. “I give some closing comments and remarks.”

While Longview youngsters enjoy another afternoon of activities starting at noon, adults can sit back and enjoy the live music jam and hot food in the beer gardens.

Some vendors from the previous day’s market will return for a mini-market and a show and shine will be held in the park as well, said De La Mare.

“There is usually quite a variety of vehicles,” she said. “Most of them are in the parade, too, which is totally neat.”

Little New York Daze is not only a hit among local residents, visitors also enjoy the weekend of festivities, said De La Mare.

“Since we are on 22 Highway there are lots of people going through,” she said. “We have to close the highway for about half an hour and we get people from everywhere. We are the gateway to the Kananaskis.”

It also helps that the village of Longview is friendly, De La Mare said.

“We have a real sense of community,” she said. “We like to support what we have here and we are open to anybody coming in, too.”

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